Margaret Reynolds I am a strategic thinker and make a living helping people make strategic decisions that improve future performance. It is a very enjoyable and rewarding career. Admittedly, to most people, what I do is a mystery, hard to explain and even more difficult to do. It is all in what you are used to. I …
In a few weeks, I will be interviewing Dan Cathy, President and COO of Chick-fil-A. In their corporate communications, they talk about their “raving fans”. They have even registered the phrase. I was asking a friend of mine who is in marketing at Southwest Airlines whether they have a “raving fans” marketing plan, and she …
Have you met anyone who enjoys being a road warrior? George Clooney in Up in the Air aside, most people don’t really enjoy slogging from airport to airport and hotel to hotel. Air travel is unreliable with constant delays. Security is tight with restrictions that make it difficult to get basic supplies on board. And …
Have you ever wondered where common sense comes into play in decision making? I once encountered an executive who believed that if he could just explain to his customers why he has to charge what he does to make a profit they would understand. In a role reversal exercise, when he was the customer, he …
This is part 2 of a two-part blog. To read part 1, click here. The number one goal is to understand the importance of leadership and spend time leading the organization, not just running it. In my thirty years of business management experience, there is a list of leadership “sins” committed every day by well-intentioned …
This is part 1 of a two-part blog. To read part 2, click here. Why do some companies succeed and others fail? Sure, part of it is the state of the economy, may be the industry they are in, could be how deep their pockets are. How much of it is leadership? Are we ready …
RICK FROST LOUISIANA-PACIFIC CORPORATION Interview with Rick Frost, CEO of Louisiana-Pacific Corporation. Leading a large construction company in a recessionary period must be tough. How are things going? The company started in 1973 selling building construction materials (of which 25% go into homes); needless to say, we have been up and down. We anticipated a downturn, but …
MARK EMKES BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS Interview with Mark Emkes, recently retired CEO of Bridgestone Americas.How did you get your start in this industry?I started off changing tires in a store in Houston for 3 months, then got promoted to service manager, and three months later I was assistant store manager and eventually store manager. After 6 months …
Banking is a dirty word in some circles. The recent economic challenges have galvanized the public’s negative sentiment toward those greedy “Wall Street bankers”. What you may not know is many banks would agree with you. The cliché, “a few bad apples spoil it for the whole bunch” applies. Most banks are trying hard to …
Top leaders agree, exceptional leadership has no room for ego. Since we started this blog in February we have interviewed top leaders around the country and they all concur. Leaders of great performing companies can’t do it alone. They put the spotlight on their employees. Jim Collins introduced the concept of Level 5 leadership in …
Contact Breakthrough Masters For a Consultation